Despite my share in a four seat Grumman Tiger AA-5B, I’m finding myself longing for something faster. Staying with certified aircraft seems to be the expensive route, although proven, but in the US exciting experimental aircraft are available to us. Interestingly the offerings in the four seat market aren’t as numerous as one might think.

Here’s a list of planes that I find interesting:
– Ravin 500 – like a Piper Comanche, just better…
– Lancair IV without pressurization
– Wheeler Express (210hp) – fix gear
– Bearhawk – heavy hauler high wing, tail dragger.

In the certified space I’m thinking:

– Mooney M20K-231 – Mooney 252TSE – Mooney M20J
– Lancair ES (210hp) – fixed gear
– Diamond DA-40
– Cessna Cardinal Turbo normalized
– Bonanza V35B
– Mooney Rocket 300S

These certified six seaters are hard to beat in value, if you can accept a 15-17gph fuel burn (all six-cylinder engines):

• Cessna C210L
• Cessna T210
• Beech Bonanza A36

Two seaters are generally much more affordable, while fast:
– Lancair 360 MkII
– RV-4
– RV-6
– Long-EZ

– Pipstrel Virus (140kts on Rotax 912 power), can be certified as powered glider! This is the mpg leader of the pack.

Finding efficient two seat experimentals isn’t too hard, finding efficient four seaters, much harder. The prices explode for four seaters.